Stereotype-casting box



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. A. THORSEN. STEREOTYPB GASTING 'BOX.

Patented Nov. 25, 1890.

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STEREOTYPE CASTING BOX.

No. 441,340.; Patented-Nov. 25, 1890.

NITED TATES 'rnon A. THORSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEREOTYPE -CASTING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,340, dated November 25, 1890.-

Application filed July 1,- 1890. Serial No. 357,414. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOR A. THORSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stereotype Casting Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in stereotype-casting boxes. A stereotypecasting box of the kind embracing my invention comprises as essential elements a barrel or mold within which the matrix is placed and a core or plunger hinged or connected with the barrel bya swinging joint. These parts are conveniently supported upon frame-work, and the entire device is usually constructed of iron, so that the weight of the core or plunger is considerable. In newspaper-printing offices and the like, where casting-boxes of this kind are constantly in use, it is found that the great Weight of the plunger forms an objectionable feature in the operation and manipulation of the box during casting. It will be noted that, especially in newspaperprinting offices, the operation of casting the stereotype-plates must be accomplished with all possible speed, as the printing is usually put off until the last moment, so that it is desirable and highly important that the manipulation of the casting-box should be accomplished expeditiously and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of energy. The most laborious operation in the manipulation of casting-boxes is the throwing back of the plunger or core after the plate has been cast therein.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means whereby the throwing back of the plunger can be easily and quickly accomplished.

To this end my invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention,Figure1 is'a vertical longitudinal section of a stereotype-casting box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating the plunger thrown back or elevated. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the clamp for holding the spring to the barrel. Fig. 5 is a modified form of construction embodying my invention.

In said drawings only such parts of a casting-box are shown as are essential and necessary to a clear understanding of the application of my invention thereto.

Referring to said drawings, A indicates as a whole the frame-work of the box, which comprises the side plates A A joined together and braced by the cross-bars act.

B indicates the barrel of the mold, and C the plunger. The said barrel and plunger are constructed so that they fit one another and form between them throughout their length a molding-chamber in the form of a segment approximating a half-circle.

Upon the rear end of the barrel B are located bearing lugs or ears I) b, and which'register with bearing lugs or ears 0 0 upon the rear end of the plunger. A shaft D is passed through said bearing-lugs b and 0, whereby the barrel and plunger are connected together at their rear ends by a hinged or swinging joint. The said barrel B is pivotally supported by the frame, as usual in this class of devices, by means of pivots B. (Shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3.) Said pivot permits the swinging of the barrel and plunger when they are located together, so as to bring the mold in an upright position with the mouth elevated and ready for the pouring of the metal. Certain adjuncts which operate in this connection are omitted from the drawings, so as not to encumber the case with unnecessary details. -It will of course be obvious that means are provided for swinging the mold and locking it in its various positions.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the barrel and plunger are shown in the position they will assume after the plate has been cast and its removal is about to be effected. After unlocking the barrel and plunger from one another (it being obvious that means are provided for holding them rigidly together) the plunger is thrown back or swung upon its pivot D by means of the side handles B B located near the forward end of the plunger. After the said plunger passes through a little more than a quarter of a revolution and stands at a slight incline on the other side of its pivot it will be restrained by coming in contact with the cross-bar a of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen the plunger is in this position, the

barrel is open and the plate or matrix can be removed. As before stated, the throwing back as well as the throwing forward of the plunger must be done quickly.

To reduce the power required to manipulate the plunger, I have interposed between the barrel and plunger a spring-body, which exertsa resistance to the closing down of the plunger upon the barrel. The said springbody is of such strength as not to interfere with or retard lzhe swinging of the plunger into position within the barrel, but exerts considerable resistance, tending to force the plunger back or in its elevated position, thereby equalizing a considerable portion of the weight of the plunger.

In the drawings I have illustrated a convenient way of constructing the said springbody, which is interposed between the barrel and the plunger. Said spring-body consists of a coiled spring E, supported by and encircling the shaft or pivot D. Said spring is secured at one end to the end of the barrel and bears at its other end against the end of the plunger. In the particular construction illustrated a sleeve or collar 01 is arranged upon the shaft D between the bearing-lugs c of the plunger, and said sleeve is rigidly secured to the shaft by means of a setrscrew d. The said spring E is coiled around the sleeve (1 as many times as found convenient, and the outer end e thereof is extended downwardly and secured to the rear end of the barrel near its lower edge, while the inner end 6' of the spring is flattened at its extremity, as at 6 and bears against the rear end of the barrel near its lower edge or at a point remote from its pivot. i

In Fig. 4 is shown a clip or clamp F for securing the outer end of the spring to the rear end of the bar. shaped barf, having through one end thereof a bolt-aperture, through which a bolt f passes. One end of said bar F is adapted to rest against the under side of the barrel, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, while the bolt is adapted to pass through a linked or hooked end portion 6 of the spring and bear against the outer side of the barrel, thus securely holding the end e of said spring to the barrel. A nut or tap f on said bolt f bears against the outer side of the hooked Said clamp F comprises a U end e of the spring, and by means of which I the strength of said spring can be adjusted. The said spring is made as strong as possible without its action interfering with the descent of the plunger into the barrel. However, it is strong enough to present considerable resistance to the descent of the plunger and serves to equalize a large proportion of its weight. In one instance in which a spring has been applied, as herein described,it served to equalize about one-half of the Weight of the plunger. It willbe understood, of course, that springs possessing different degrees of strength can be used.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another manner of connecting the outer end of the spring with the rear end of the barrel. In this construction a headed bolt f is passed through the linked portion 8 of the spring, and said bolt screws into the end of the drum, while the linked portion of the spring bears against the head of the bolt. It will thus be seen, as with the other form of clainp for fastening the spring to the barrel, that by means of said bolt the strength of the spring can be adjusted.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in a stereotype-casting box, of a barrel and plunger joined together at their rear ends by a hinged joint and a spring located in the rear of and supported upon said casting-box,one end of said spring being secured to the rear end of said barrel and its other end arranged to bear against the rear end of said plunger and adapted to exert a resistance to the closing of the latter.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, in a stereotype-casting box, of abarrel and plunger pivoted together at one end thereof and a coiled spring supported upon the pivot of the barrel and plunger, one end of said spring being adjustably secured to the barrel and the other end arranged to bear against the end of the plunger and adapted toexert a resistance to the closing of the latter.

THOR A. TIIORSEN.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY COBB KENNEDY, T. WAGNER. 

